Following the Sept. 11 presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Harris’ campaign transformed the event into an extended campaign promotion. 

Harris’ team posted the full 1-hour and 40-minute debate on X, branding it as their “newest ad.” Viewers say this unconventional move capitalized on Harris’ strong performance, which many commentators viewed as a decisive win for her. According to a CNN flash poll, 63% of registered voters who watched the debate believed that Harris came out on top, nearly doubling Trump’s support. 

“I think that Harris is being very mindful of who her audience is,” Minseo Kim (12), viewer of American politics, said. “I heard that she also recently did a campaign with Megan Thee Stallion and Taylor Swift, so it is quite obvious that she is trying to get the attention of younger audiences. Her promotion of almost making fun of Trump and glamorizing herself simultaneously is also another way for her to attract our generation.”

The debate itself was marked by intense exchanges, with Trump becoming visibly frustrated during Harris’ remarks, particularly when she referenced his past obsession with crowd sizes. This led Trump to veer into tangents, including a conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants. 

“I think her campaign’s decision to post the entire debate as a simple ad really shows her confidence in her performance,” Avin Im (12), political observer, said. “I think it really sets her apart from the controversial responses Trump’s were giving during the debate.”